Methods for creating undulating structures are disclosed in which an elastic sheet and a rigid restraining member having different curvatures are joined. The structures incorporate stopping members, such as stopped grooves, to manage the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet. The joint is such that the transverse deformations may migrate along the undulating structure in a coordinated, wave, either to gather kinetic energy, or to propel the structure relative to a fluid. To facilitate such a wave, the elastic sheet can be joined to the retaining member via passive stopping members that oscillate about their points of attachment to the retaining member. These are also constructed to limit the elastic sheet from reverting to its original configuration. The retaining member can be annular structures, and the elastic sheet members can be tubular. Stopping members can be actuated to power the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet to oscillate.

A device for mixing liquids and solids in liquids using vibration includes an electromagnetic drive, a drive shaft arranged coaxially with the electromagnetic drive, with drive shaft having a mixing member and either a permanent magnet or a magnetisable element excited by the electromagnetic drive to cause vibration for transmission to the mixing member, and a system of flat spring elements including a first spring element arranged parallel to the drive shaft and a second spring element arranged perpendicularly to the drive shaft and connected to the permanent magnet or the magnetisable element.

A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.

A vibration device that includes a first elastic plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a first surface and a second surface facing each other and connecting the first and second end portions. A second elastic plate is laminated to the second end portion of the first elastic plate, and a piezoelectric vibration element is provided on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the first elastic plate. On a portion where the first elastic plate and the second elastic plate are laminated, a first bonding portion and a second bonding portion that bond the first elastic plate and the second elastic plate to each other are provided. The second bonding portion is located closer to the first end portion than the first bonding portion.

A vibration device that includes a first elastic plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a first surface and a second surface facing each other and connecting the first and second end portions. A second elastic plate is laminated to the second end portion of the first elastic plate, and a piezoelectric vibration element is provided on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the first elastic plate. On a portion where the first elastic plate and the second elastic plate are laminated, a first bonding portion and a second bonding portion that bond the first elastic plate and the second elastic plate to each other are provided. The second bonding portion is located closer to the first end portion than the first bonding portion.

An actuator may include a supporting body; a movable body; a first magnetic drive circuit including a first coil and a first magnet disposed adjacent to each other in a first direction and driving the movable body in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a second magnetic drive circuit including a second coil and a second magnet disposed adjacent to each other in the first direction and driving the movable body in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and intersecting the second direction. The second coil and the second magnet may be disposed in alignment with the first magnetic drive circuit in the first direction. The supporting body may include a restraining member. A first elastic member may be in contact with both the movable body and the restraining member. A second elastic may be in contact with both the movable body the restraining member.

An actuator may include a supporting body; a movable body; a first magnetic drive circuit; a second magnetic drive circuit. The first magnetic drive circuit may include a first coil and a first magnet. The second magnetic drive circuit may include a second coil and a second magnet. The actuator may further include a first yoke on a side of the first coil remote from the second coil; a second yoke on a side of the second coil remote from the first coil; and a third yoke between the first coil and the second coil. The first magnet may be held on a face of the first yoke or a face of the third yoke. The second magnet may be held on a face of the second yoke or a face of the third yoke. The third yoke may be thicker than the first and second yoke.

An actuator may include a supporting body; a movable body; a first drive circuit; a second drive circuit; and a wiring board. The first drive circuit may include a first coil and a first magnet. The second drive circuit may include a second coil and a second magnet. The wiring board may include a first portion on a first side of the wiring board; a bent portion bent from the first portion toward a second side of the wiring board; a second portion extending from the bent portion and disposed on a first side of the wiring board; a first terminal disposed on the first portion or the second portion and connected to the first coil. A second terminal disposed the other of the first portion and the second portion and connected to the second coil; and a plurality of third terminals disposed on the second portion.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle seat vibration dampening system including a vibration sensor that senses vibration of a vehicle seat generated by movement of a vehicle on a roadway, wherein the vibration sensor generates a signal indicative of the sensed vibration, a controller that determines, based on the signal generated by the vibration sensor, a counter vibration to dampen the sensed vibration of the vehicle seat and, based on the determination, produces a control signal to effect generation of the counter vibration, and a transducer that generates the counter vibration of the vehicle seat in response to the control signal to dampen the sensed vibration of the vehicle seat.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle seat vibration dampening system including a vibration sensor that senses vibration of a vehicle seat generated by movement of a vehicle on a roadway, wherein the vibration sensor generates a signal indicative of the sensed vibration, a controller that determines, based on the signal generated by the vibration sensor, a counter vibration to dampen the sensed vibration of the vehicle seat and, based on the determination, produces a control signal to effect generation of the counter vibration, and a transducer that generates the counter vibration of the vehicle seat in response to the control signal to dampen the sensed vibration of the vehicle seat.